Mail-pouch-delivery device.



' No. 884,785 PATENTED APR.14:, 1908..

w. A. VIRGILS. MAIL POUCH DELIVERY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 2. 1907.

WILLIAM A, VIRGILS, Ol" (.HICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOH OF ONE-HALF TO CARL A. KREEGER,

, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IVIAIIwl-OUGH-DELIVERY DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM-A. Vinonls, o

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicage, county of took, and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in hail Pouch Delivery Dcvices, of which the tolhiwing is a specificntion.

My invention relates to devices i'or handling mnil pouches and particularly to devices for delivering the pouches from a rapidly moving train to a receiver located adjacent to the track at the point where it is desired to deliver the mail.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail delivery device of the character mentioned, and embodying my invention in its preferred form, illustrating a portion of the mail car with that part of the device which is carried thereby and also the receiving crane, Fig. 2 is s perspective view of a portion of the device as viewed from within the car, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred form of mail pouch especially designed for use with the mail delivery device embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a portion of a side of a mail car and 2 a do0rway therein. Secured to the car upon each side ol the door EL bracket, 3 in which is rotatably and slidably mounted the pouch delivery crane. Thiscomprises kt straight bar portion, 4 which is mounted in the brackets, 3 an o'llset arm, 5 and a long arm, 6 arranged substantially parallel to the portion, l. The arm, 6 is tapered towards its free end and at or near its opposite end is provided with a depressed portion, 7, forming a notch to receive the suspending member of the mail pouch. adjacent to the portion, 7 is a spring, 8. This extends, over the portion, 7 to retain tho pouch suspending member therein and a considerzlblc distance beyond in the opposite direction from that in which the train is moving, that is, toward the l'ree end. of the arm, ii. to prevent accidental dislodgment oi the pouch but permits easy dctiichmei'ir or removal of the pouch when engaged by the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2, 1907.

Fixed to the arm, (3

The spring is of sullicient strength Patented April 14, 1908.

Serial No. $052860.

The crane is rotatobly mounted in the brackets, 3 in order that the arm 6 may lie close against the side of the car except when a pouch is to be delivered. When the train approaches a station at which a pouch is to be delivered, the crane is swung outwardly into horizontal position, the pouch having first been secured to the arm, 6 beneath the spring, 8. To swing the crane outwardly, I provide the portion, 4 thereof with a handle, 9. The crane may be held in horizontal or operative position by the mail clerk but I prefer to provide suitable means for holding it. This comprises 2i bar, 10 slidably mounted in brackets, 11 secured to the inner walls of the car upon one side of the door. As soon es the crane is raised to horizontal position, the bar, 10 is slid longitudinally in the hrackets until one end thereof extends over 'the handle, 9 which maintains the crane in operative position until it is retracted. 12 indicates a handle on the her, 10 for 0 erating the same and 13 a casting fixed to the inner end on the rod to prevent the some from turning in the brackets thus maintaining the handle, 12 in the proper position at all times.

The arm, 6 of the crane is preferably longer than the width of the car door, hence, in

order that the mail clerk may readily place o a pouch thereon, the crane is longitudinally slidable in the-brackets,'3, a pair of steps, 14 and i5 limiting its movement in either direction. When the crane is ushed forwardly until the stop, 15 engages the bracket, 3, the end of the arm, 6 is in front of the door and readily accessible. As soon as the pouch is placed thereon, the crane is drawn back until the stop, ll engages the bracket, 3. When the trnin approaches the station, the crane is raised into horizontal position, by; the handle, t) and the rod, 10 is drawn over the handle to maintain the crane in position.

The receiving crane comprises a long horizontally disposed arm, 16 which enters the suspending member of the pouch to with draw it l'rom the notch, 7 on the arm, 6, and a suitable sfamhpost for supporting the some. The arm, 16 extends parallel with the truck and terminates in a forwardly and downwardly extending portion, 17, a return bond, 18 and an ollset portion, 19, by which it is attached to the stand post, 20. The

crnne is adjustably secured to the stand post receiving crone to which it is to be delivered. l and to ihis end the portion, 19' terminates in proper height.

It is obvious that practically any style of mail. pouch. may be employed provided it is equipped with a suitable suspending device .which may also be engaged by the receiving crane to-rcmove it from the delivery crane on the car. However, I prel er to l orm thc mail pouch illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 ot the drawmgs. The pouch illustrated therein comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion, 23 which may be of leather or any suitable material and which is provided with a leather bottom, 2- 1 riveted thereto. Secured to the top oi the body portion is a bail, 25 by which the pouch suspended from the crane arm, 6. The bail is formed oi a steel rod and is provided with a ccntrally disposed loop, 26 which is adapted to engage the notch, 7 in the arm, 6. The pouch is provided with a flexible closure, 27 which is riveted or otherwise secured to one side of the pouch for closing the same. The closure, 27 is drawn tightly over the top thereol and fastened. Totasten the closure the body of the pouch is provided with a plurality of steel loops or eyes, 28 which extend through correspondmg eyelets in the end of the closure and a' strap, 29 is passed through the loops and se curely fastened. When the train reaches the receiving crane, the arm, l6 enters under the bail, 25 guiding the same into the downwardly inclined portion defined by the por- ,tions, l7 and. 8 ol the crai'ie which quickly lemoves the pouch from the delivery crane leaving it hanging at the bottom of the inclined portion Having described my invent-ion what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a deraising said delivery arm into operative position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described a de- -1ivery crane mounted upon the side of a car and havinga delivery arm extending parallel with the side of a car, said arm having a notch therein and a spring overhanging said notch, in combination with a mail pouch having a suspending member adapted to rest within said notch, and a receiving crane adapted to engage said suspending 1nember, and for the purpose specified.

In a device of the class described, a receiving crane comprising a stand- )ost andv a receiving arm vertically adjustable thereon, said arm consisting of a horizontal portion arranged parallel with the track a forwardly inclined portion, a return portion parallel therewith. and an offset portion by which the device is secured to the post, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a delivery crane rotatably mounted upon the side of a car, a handle thereon for raising said crane into operative position, a sliding bar arranged upon the inner wall of the car for engaging said handle, a handle on said bar for reciprocating the same and means for preventing said bar from turning, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witesses;

' WILLIAM A. VlltG-TLS.

Witnesses:

HOWARD S. AUsTIN, FnANoEs E. Sunnnr. 

